You may have heard the old proverb, “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know,” often attributed to Aristotle, Socrates, or even Einstein. This insight is fundamental to our existence and serves as a timeless reminder- knowledge and wisdom is infinite.
Becoming a parent teaches you many lessons, primarily that you never truly know enough. No matter how much one prepares or educates themselves about parenting, it is impossible to fully prepare for the joy and challenges that lie ahead. Life is filled with experiences that cannot be learned from classes or lectures; much of what we need to know is learned through living. Ultimately, we can only gain understanding through the art of living.
We are currently in the Age of Information, which has produced two unintended consequences: anxiety and inaction. These two concepts are closely related; anxiety often leads to inaction. The more knowledge we acquire, the more we realize how much we still don’t know. This uncertainty, the unknowable, can paralyze us. For instance, a statistic from the Department of Motor Vehicles reveals that only 25% of 16-year-olds held a driver’s license in 2021, down from 46% in 1983. Similarly, the share of 18-year-olds with a license dropped from 80% in 1983 to 60% in 2021. While many factors contribute to this trend, my experience with adolescents suggests that the fear of the unknown is their greatest hindrance.
As we explore the book of Ecclesiastes, we encounter some profound truths. One of the most significant insights comes from
Ecclesiastes 1:15: “What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.”
The Preacher emphasizes that this is a challenging aspect of wisdom. The more you know, the more you become aware of what you lack. Additionally, he highlights a point about truth: “what is crooked” refers to falsehood. There is no way to make something true if it is a lie. This statement affirms the concept of objective reality. In our quest for meaning, no matter how hard we try to manipulate the truth, it either is or it isn’t. We cannot bend the truth to fit our purposes.
The answer to this dilemma is found in Ecclesiastes 7:13: “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked?” Objective reality originates from God. What He declares as right and true is indeed right and true. This is also where we discern the unknowable. I don’t need to know everything; I only need to remain close to the One who does. I may not have all the answers, but I must know the Source of all things. If I stay close to Him, then I can find answers to life’s biggest questions.
“Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.”
Ira Stanpill (1950)